If you ask any one of the increasing number of cricket players in GTA, Toronto is not a single playground.
Shiv Persoud, president of the Scarborough Cricket Association, said, “They are only 28 pitches that are near the city of Toronto.” “When you compare that from other areas such as football and baseball, we are quite high when you see population demographics.”
The popularity of cricket in Toronto has been skyrocketing, but with being available on some pitches, Persed says that many leagues also cannot get off the ground.
“There are more than 160 applications that we have to delay or lump sum because we do not have enough space,” the purse said. “The need for more cricket sectors is simply there, and I believe it is the responsibility of the city to ensure that it is justified.”
In response, in June 2024, the city announced a cricket strategy with a plan to create five new cricket pitch in five years, and employees say that the study has been done to target existing city parks.
Skarborough Junction is one of the Carvet Park in the neighborhood.
The city spokesperson told Speakers Corner, “Carvet Park was selected due to the current use of cricket, large flat grounds and supportive facilities.” “The design was informed by local cricket users and supports casual sports, youth programming and tournament.”
But out of the conversation, there were many softball and slow-pitch league members, relying on the Carvet Park, which have currently been equipped with three baseball diamonds for decades.
“In March of 2025, the leagues received an email, conversion by the next spring, and it would now be a cricket pitch with a diamond instead of three,” said Robert McInier, president of the Corruption Slow-Picch League.
“Our league has used these areas since the 1960s, and now, with the removal of two diamonds, we are being told in the next season that we have to find an alternative park not only our league but also others.”
Martin Walk Scarborough Anglican Youth Ministry is the Commissioner of Softball League.
“Our children have used this park for 20 years, now we don’t know where we will go,” he said. “Just to get an email, saying that this is happening and no other conversation about it is disappointing.”
League leaders say they are not against the city’s plan to create more cricket pitch; In fact, they believe that Carvet Park is large enough to keep diamonds and make a cricket pitch.
“This will need to move the existing diamonds, but we believe that the problem is not listening to the city and instead,” This is the plan, we are going with it, “said McIntire.
“Many of us are very worried that if you take an organization that has been in a park for 65 years and just removes the facilities of the park, they can not play there now, well, what is going to happen in the next park what it happens?”
Persade says he understands that the plan is creating disappointment, but says that cricket players, especially many youth who want to take the game, have been sidelined for a very long time.
“There are hundreds of softball areas across the city. Then, we currently have about 28 pitches, not enough to support the demand,” he said. “When you look at GTA, we are definitely behind in places like Brampton and what they are doing.”
Councilor Partha Kandwell, who represents the ward where the Carvet Park is located, agrees.
“The city’s decision to convert two ball diamonds into a cricket ground is not in favor of a game. Instead, its purpose is to increase our existing entertaining infrastructure and create opportunities to flourish in the ward for all sports.”
He says that he has requested that the city employees identify new and equivalent diamonds by September 2025, so there will be a clear idea in these leagues where they will play in the coming season.
“My office will continue to monitor this process closely and will advocate for proper access to recreational facilities for all the residents of our ward.”
Not yet know where they will be located, slow-pitch and softball league are concerned that alternative parks may be far away for some members.
“Again, this is our home over the years and for many members, closeness is important,” Walk said. “We think we have been left out of this whole conversation.”
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